Maurice Clarett is a Bronco (1 Viewer)

[Family Matters]

I'm probably in the smallest of minorities when it comes to this situation. I think:

1) Clarett's character issues are overblown

His character issues have nothing to do well wanting to go to the NFL early. If you think that then you really haven't followed what has happened. His character issues are the main problem, besides that he's slow. His character issues are why he didn't finish college, the charity event and the combine just to name a few. His character issues are why everyone who tried to help him by providing mentorship and guidence got burned by Clarett. The Clarett story is an interesting read because he's demostrated how not to have your son/daughter approach college, sports and a professional career. He did everything wrong, did it wrong again and then continues to do it wrong today. He has not changed.

Before you guys go ripping me about him, I hope it works for Denver and Clarett. He hasn't done anything to me personally. But he is not a guy I can root for. He's not a guy I want my son looking at as a role model. He's hurt a lot of people that have tried to help him and for that he'll never overcome.

Turns out he slow in more than 1 way.

 

[fsufan]

As a Bell owner in two leagues I can tell you I slept alot easier last night.I would have been more worried had they taken Moats,Fason or BarberIII.......

As a Bell owner in 2 leagues I agree. I am not worried about Clarett. But, I do have the 1.07 and 1.08 picks in one league and probably will draft Clarett with one of those picks, if he is available, just to safe.

 

[CravenM]

Agree with LHucks - anybody here who thinks they know more about the potential for RBs that Shanny is a blowhard.I'm in a dynasty league and have McGahee, CBrown, TBell and FTaylor as my RBsBarring some surprises in this half-guppy league, I'll be picking up McGahee's backup in the 13th, MoClar in the 14th, TE in the 15th and Defense in the 16th of this year's draft.

 

[LHUCKS]

Agree with LHucks - anybody here who thinks they know more about the potential for RBs that Shanny is a blowhard.

I'm in a dynasty league and have McGahee, CBrown, TBell and FTaylor as my RBs

Barring some surprises in this half-guppy league, I'll be picking up McGahee's backup in the 13th, MoClar in the 14th, TE in the 15th and Defense in the 16th of this year's draft.

Kiper and Mort agree with us as well when Kiper said, "I'll defer to Shannahan's expertise when it comes to Clarett's ability."...and immediately after Mort said, "I agree." And this is Kiper we're talking about who is fairly egocentric.But keep on talking about all of these "character issues" that make Clarett a reach in the 3rd.

 

[Family Matters]

Agree with LHucks - anybody here who thinks they know more about the potential for RBs that Shanny is a blowhard.

I'm in a dynasty league and have McGahee, CBrown, TBell and FTaylor as my RBs

Barring some surprises in this half-guppy league, I'll be picking up McGahee's backup in the 13th, MoClar in the 14th, TE in the 15th and Defense in the 16th of this year's draft.

Kiper and Mort agree with us as well when Kiper said, "I'll defer to Shannahan's expertise when it comes to Clarett's ability."...and immediately after Mort said, "I agree." And this is Kiper we're talking about who is fairly egocentric.But keep on talking about all of these "character issues" that make Clarett a reach in the 3rd.

At the time I made my "reach" comment I didn't realize they didn't have a 4th/5th. After realizing that they really didn't have much choice. You keep referring up the fact that we'll have to defer to Shannahan's judgement on this as if it's some attempt to suggest we have no right to make our own judgement. You mean like Tenn and Fisher when they went with Brown? Now I understand.

 

[JohnnyU]

Agree with LHucks - anybody here who thinks they know more about the potential for RBs that Shanny is a blowhard.

I'm in a dynasty league and have McGahee, CBrown, TBell and FTaylor as my RBs

Barring some surprises in this half-guppy league, I'll be picking up McGahee's backup in the 13th, MoClar in the 14th, TE in the 15th and Defense in the 16th of this year's draft.

Kiper and Mort agree with us as well when Kiper said, "I'll defer to Shannahan's expertise when it comes to Clarett's ability."...and immediately after Mort said, "I agree." And this is Kiper we're talking about who is fairly egocentric.But keep on talking about all of these "character issues" that make Clarett a reach in the 3rd.

At the time I made my "reach" comment I didn't realize they didn't have a 4th/5th. After realizing that they really didn't have much choice. You keep referring up the fact that we'll have to defer to Shannahan's judgement on this as if it's some attempt to suggest we have no right to make our own judgement. You mean like Tenn and Fisher when they went with Brown? Now I understand.

.....and the incredible part of it, is they passed on Fason for someone with so many question marks (both physically and mentally). I think Shanahan tried to out smart himself this time

 

[BuckeyeArt]

That's pretty good analysis, except...

1) What do you mean Griffin's numbers don't include short yardage carries? He had more TDs than Clarett IIRC, and was an everydown back.

2) Not sure exactly the stories behind Jason Wright and Fred Russell.

3) Comparing LJ's 7.7 ypc to Clarett's 5.6 ypc is silly. That's like comparing Clarett to a 3.4 ypc guy. The same to a lesser extent with Griffin.

1) Having a lot of TD's doesn't mean you're the short yardage guy. Griffin had 287 carries that year and 15 TD's. Kejuan Jones had 165 carries (3.7 ypc) and 14 TD's. Griffin's: 29,5,17,15,4,1,25,1,62,36,1,4,19,27. (Missing one somewhere)Jones: 8,1,5,5,1,1,2,2,1,14,10,3,1 (Also missing one).

I think it's safe to say Griffin wasn't the short yardage back.

2) I don't know anything about Wright either. But, Russell was another little guy. My point was that the small 3rd down type guys (in pros) may put up higher ypc because of the situations or schedules they faced in college. All those little guys had another big guy on the team who probably was in during short yardage situations, keeping their ypc higher. For Russell, Iowa had a bigger guy with 8 TD's (Russell had 9).

3) Didn't compare LJ's ypc to Clarett's. LJ was on your list. He was a big guy. He's a starter (or could be) in the pros. I was only showing that the big guys on the list are all starters in the NFL. Clarett is also a big guy.

 

[Chase Stuart]

That's pretty good analysis, except...

1) What do you mean Griffin's numbers don't include short yardage carries? He had more TDs than Clarett IIRC, and was an everydown back.

2) Not sure exactly the stories behind Jason Wright and Fred Russell.

3) Comparing LJ's 7.7 ypc to Clarett's 5.6 ypc is silly. That's like comparing Clarett to a 3.4 ypc guy. The same to a lesser extent with Griffin.

1) Having a lot of TD's doesn't mean you're the short yardage guy. Griffin had 287 carries that year and 15 TD's. Kejuan Jones had 165 carries (3.7 ypc) and 14 TD's. Griffin's: 29,5,17,15,4,1,25,1,62,36,1,4,19,27. (Missing one somewhere)Jones: 8,1,5,5,1,1,2,2,1,14,10,3,1 (Also missing one).

I think it's safe to say Griffin wasn't the short yardage back.

2) I don't know anything about Wright either. But, Russell was another little guy. My point was that the small 3rd down type guys (in pros) may put up higher ypc because of the situations or schedules they faced in college. All those little guys had another big guy on the team who probably was in during short yardage situations, keeping their ypc higher. For Russell, Iowa had a bigger guy with 8 TD's (Russell had 9).

3) Didn't compare LJ's ypc to Clarett's. LJ was on your list. He was a big guy. He's a starter (or could be) in the pros. I was only showing that the big guys on the list are all starters in the NFL. Clarett is also a big guy.

Fair enough. Good points, and that's without considering Clarett's age when he put up those numbers.

 

[Family Matters]

That's pretty good analysis, except...

1) What do you mean Griffin's numbers don't include short yardage carries? He had more TDs than Clarett IIRC, and was an everydown back.

2) Not sure exactly the stories behind Jason Wright and Fred Russell.

3) Comparing LJ's 7.7 ypc to Clarett's 5.6 ypc is silly. That's like comparing Clarett to a 3.4 ypc guy. The same to a lesser extent with Griffin.

1) Having a lot of TD's doesn't mean you're the short yardage guy. Griffin had 287 carries that year and 15 TD's. Kejuan Jones had 165 carries (3.7 ypc) and 14 TD's. Griffin's: 29,5,17,15,4,1,25,1,62,36,1,4,19,27. (Missing one somewhere)Jones: 8,1,5,5,1,1,2,2,1,14,10,3,1 (Also missing one).

I think it's safe to say Griffin wasn't the short yardage back.

2) I don't know anything about Wright either. But, Russell was another little guy. My point was that the small 3rd down type guys (in pros) may put up higher ypc because of the situations or schedules they faced in college. All those little guys had another big guy on the team who probably was in during short yardage situations, keeping their ypc higher. For Russell, Iowa had a bigger guy with 8 TD's (Russell had 9).

3) Didn't compare LJ's ypc to Clarett's. LJ was on your list. He was a big guy. He's a starter (or could be) in the pros. I was only showing that the big guys on the list are all starters in the NFL. Clarett is also a big guy.

Fair enough. Good points, and that's without considering Clarett's age when he put up those numbers.

Good point about his age. As a freshman I think what he did was incredible. If he had stayed in school I feel he would of increased his production and grown more mature. He likely would of been a 1st round pick. Dropping out was probably the worse thing that could of happened to him.

 

[BuckeyeArt]

Also, OSU didn't have phenomenal talent around him. They had a phenomenal defense but very average offensive players. Their line was far from phenomenal. Look at the rushing averages since.

IIRC-OSU had 17 players drafted into the NFL from that team in just 1 year. There were also a few from the year after the championship. Are you sure they didn't have talent?

Spin, spin, spin. As I said, they had a phenomenal defense. Actually, from drafthistory.com, they had 5 players drafted in 2003 and 14 in 2004. Of the 14 in 2004, 7 were offensive. Four were taken 5th round or later and didn't play or played horribly (Krenzel). Only Stepanovich (4th) was a starter. Jenkins (1st) and Hartsock (3rd) combined for a whopping 11 catches. Of the 5 from 2003, none were offense. Pretty phenomenal. Yes, I'm sure they didn't have phenomenal offensive talent.

 

[CravenM]

.....and the incredible part of it, is they passed on Fason for someone with so many question marks (both physically and mentally). I think Shanahan tried to out smart himself this time

Perhaps - I certainly would have been more confident in getting TBell's backup if it were Fason than Clarrett.One slight comparison: a few years ago Buffalo took a huge "WTF" pick of McGahee in the first round when they had Travis Henry already - and they look pretty dang smart now.

 

[DonnyT33]

another chapter in the legend of shanny.

yep he is just great at making 1,000 yard runners, agreed.